Automatic crimping machine



z Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Jan. 22, 1962 I I I I Illlll //Vl E/VTOR FEL/X M ANTHONY June 22, 1965 F. M. ANTHONY AUTOMATIC CRIMPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1962 A T TpRA/E Y5 3,190,096 AUTOMATIC CRIB/[PING MACHENE Felix M. Anthony,275 Fairmount Ava, Piedmont, Calif.

' Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,707

9 Claims. '(Cl. 72-110) This invention relates to cable connector crimping machines, in general, and is particularly directed to a fully automatic power driven machine of this type.

Various devices are known for facilitating the attachment of cable connectors, lugs, and other applicancesto electrical cables by a crimping action. The appliance is commonly arranged to be slipped coaxially over the stripped end of a cable. The crimping tool is then arranged to grip the cable and appliance and to urge a crimpingroller against the periphery of the appliance with substantial force while the roller moves circumferentially therearound. The appliance is thus circumferen- United States Patent tially crimped into the cable conductortoproduce a highly eflicient connection therebetween. Heretoiore the crimping tools have usually effected the crimping action by hand operation through a ratchet actuation or the like. By virtue of the substantial roller pressure which must be generated and the number of roller passes. around the appliance required in producing a crimp, the use of hand operated crimping tools for this purpose is variously disadvantageous from the standpoints of the operating time and fatigue factor involved. a

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a power driven fully automatic crimping machine for securing connection appliances to electrical cable in which the depth of crimp is uniformly controlled, thus providing for equal distribution ofload pressure at the cable connection to assure maximum mechanical efliciency and electrical conduction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a crimping machine of the class described in which one or more crimps of the same or difierent diameters may be simultaneously formed. 7

his another object of the presentinvention to provide a power driven fully automatic crimping machine which will secure connection appliances to electrical cable more accurately and with greater speed than hasheretofore appliance.

3,190,096 Patented June 22, 1965 ice v FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of Considering now the invention in some detail and refer ring to the illustrated form thereof in the drawing, there is seen to be provided a crimping machine 11 for auto matically producing a circumferential crimp locked. joint between a connection appliance 12 and electrical cable13.

Basically the machine includes a cable receiving and rotating bed 14 including drive and idler rolls 16, 17. Powered drive means, preferably'a pneumatically actuated drive system 18 are coupled to the drive roll 16 to rotate same alternately in opposite rotational directions.

Thus the cable 13 with connection. appliance 12 concen- V trically disposed thereon may be placed upon the bedbetween the drive and idler rolls 16, 17. Upon actuation of the drive system 18 the drive roll imparts its alternating rotary motionto the cable and appliance to rotate same alternately in one direction through at least 360 and then in the opposite direction through at least 360.

In addition the crimping machine 11 includes a crimping roll 19 journalled upon feed means 21 for rotation about an axis parallel to the rotational axes of rolls 16, 17 and in spaced opposition to the region intermediate same. The crimping roll thus bears against the surface of the connection appliance 12 as disposed upon the cable 13 and supported on the drive and idler rolls. Moreover, th e feed means 21 is arranged to graduallyurge the crimping roll into closer and closer intimate contact with the connection appliance 12 as it is rotated. Such action of the feed means is facilitated by powered drive means, preferablya pneumatic feed drive system. 22 coupled thereto. In addition, a pneumatic control system 23 couples the drive systems 18 and 22 to a compressed air source 24. The control system is arranged to eiiect en ergization of the rotary drive system 18 in a manner Still another object of the invention is to provide a crimping machine of the class described which is readily adjustable to crimp cables and connection appliances of supplemental parts to accommodate such various sizes.

varied sizes without requiring the .changing of dies or Yetanother object of the inventionis the provision of it a crimping machine of the class described which makes two crimps at the same time-on dificrent diameters.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a crimping machine which is pneumatically powered.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of. which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in .the following description of the preferred :form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and fgrming part of the specification. It

is to be understood, however, that-variations in the show- .ing made by the saiddrawing and descriptionmay be adopted within the scope of the invention. as setiorth in .lthe claims.

FIGURE 1 isa plan view with portions broken away of a crimping machine according to the present invention.

productive of the alternating rotation and simultaneously effect energization of the feed drive system 22, all in re sponse to selective actuation by an operator. When the feed drive system 22 has urged the crimping roll 19 to a predetermineddepth of penetration into the connection appliance 12 productive of a crimped joint, the control system automatically. disconnects the drive systems 18, 22 from theair source 24 to thus terminate operation of the machine. The crimping machine 11 thus produces a circumferential crimped joint between the connection appliance 12 and cable. 13 in a fully automatic manner in response to a single actuation by the operator.

Considering now the crimping machine 11 generally outlined hereinbefore in greater detail as to preferred structure, it is to be noted that the bed 14 is provided as a generally rectangular open topped housing 26 between the side walls of which the drive and idler rolls 16, 17 are journalled in parallel close longitudinally spaced relationship. The side walls of the housingare' provided with s'uitablenotches '27 in their regions medially of the rolls to provideexposed accessible roll surfaces for freely supporting the connection appliance and cable thereon, It is important to note that the drive and'idler rolls "16, 17 are identical and that each includes transversely V a l More specifically the outer peripheral portion 28 of each roll is of somewhat greater diameter than the inner peripheral portion 29. V The peripheral'portions 28, 29 are jspacedan'd interconnected by an integral central hub portion Lil of the roll having a lesser diameter than either of the peripheral portions. Thesurfaces of the peripheral portions are preferably knurled. ltzwill thus'be appreci ated that the space between the inner peripheral portions 29 of the drive and idler rolls isgreater and deeper than the space between the outer peripheral portions 28. V The connection appliances 12 include correspondingly enlarged 7 tensions d are formed with ribs 57 which'slidably engage vertical grooves 53 provided in the sides of the I i v and reduced portions for respectively engaging the 'in- V sulating sheath and' str'ippedbare conductor of the cable 13. Thus the rolls facilitate theready supportjof the con nection appliance with its enlarged portion engaging the inner peripheral roll portions 29 and its reduced portion 'tion' directly between the sides of housing 26 while the bed housing. With the feed housing so mountedrelative to the-bed housing it is tobenoted that the crimping roll overlies the medial regions between the feed .and

idler rollsfin the relationship hereinbefore described. Moreover, springs 59 are attached between the bracket side, arms 51 and the base of the feed housing on the opposite side of the pivot'53'from the crimping roll. The springs; resiliently retain the bracket in a normal position wherein the crimping roll is s aced from' the drive and idler rolls; Upon upward movement of the distal end of the bracket relative to the crimpingroll theroll 7 is pivoted downwardly towards the drive andidler rolls axle of drive roll ldprojects inwardly therefrom for coupling to the pneumatically actuated drive'system 18.

More specifically the drive system 181's preferably contained within a longitudinally elongated housing 32 to the outer side wall of which the bed housing 26 is secured. The bed housing is so disposed relative to the. drive housing 32 that the projecting end of the drive roll axle'transversely overlies the top wall of the latter; The

system 18 then preferably includes agdouble acting pneu- I matic cylinder 33 mounted longitudinally within the central region of the housing 32. The piston rods 34, 36

1 secured to the piston 37. within cylinder 33 projectfrom its opposite ends and are secured to a longitudinally ex-: tending rack 38. The rack is slidably'interposed between the, cylinder 33 and top wall of housing 32 in parallel relation'to the piston rods 34, 36. Brackets39; extend,

ing radially from the pistonrods into attachment with the rackare the preferred means oftsecurance thercbetween.v AS'thE piston reciprocates withinthe cylinder the rack is hence correspondingly moved within the housing 32 adjacent its top wall; The rack isdisposed with its teeth facing the top wall of .thehousing so as to engage a gear 41 secured to thej iprojecting end of the driveflroll' axle and having its periphery extending through a slot 44 in the top wall. Thus the reciprocating motion of the nately in opposite directions. 7 V 7 Considering now the crimping roll 19,which bears against the connection appliance to be crimped duringthe alternating rotationthereof eflected !by the drive roll below the bottom of the bed housing whereby rotation Iack produces rotation of the gear and drive roll alter- Y 16, it is to'be noted that such crimping roll is formed with V apair oftransve'rselyspaced integral rims 46, 47. These rims are adapted to be positioned in alignment with'long-ii tudinal vertical planes medially through the peripheral portions 28,129 respectively of the drive and idler rolls. The outer-rim 46 is of greater diameter than the inner rim 47 so as to conform to the different spacings between the peripheral portions'of the drive andidler rolls.

With reference.tothecrimping.roll feed means .521,

it is to be noted that same preferably includes a pivot bracket 48 upon which the drive rollis' journalled. Thebracket has a pair of parallel spaced side arms 49, '51

joined at one end by a cross member 52', the axle of the;

crimping roll being rotatably securedbetween the opposite ends of the arms." The bracket is pivotally con between upper and lower limits of the feed stroke which are fixed relative to the feed housing and determined in I a manner subsequently described.

"It is desirable that the limits of the feed stroke of the crimping roll be readily. varied with respect to the: drive housing whereby the positions of the upper and lower' limi its of the feed'strokeare-likewise translated relative "to the drive and idler rolls. Preferably the adjusting means I includes a screw shaft 61 journalled in the bottom of the bed housing for rotation'about a vertical axis; The

shaft threadably engagesa lug-62 securedto the front wall of the feedhousingSSiso that as the shaft turns the feed'housingis vertically translated. To facilitateturning of the shaftfa shaft extension dfimay be releasably keyed to the free end of the shaft to 'extend'up'wardly above the feed housing. An adjusting wheel .64 may additionally be secured to the lower end of the shaft which projects of the shaft may be alternatively effected. Moreover in order that the positionsof the-teed stroke limits be easily set to properly accommodate the different size cables and connection appliances a size gauge is'advantageously provided at thefront ofithe bedv and feed housings.

More particularly, an indexing arrow 66 is scribed or otherwise imprinted onohe housing, for-example, the

feed -housing,- adjacent the part line the'rebetween; A number of vertically spaced lines 67 calibrated in terms of cable size arein turn'provided on the other housing, "in this case the bed housing.- Accordingly; the adjusting;

wheel fil-l may be'tu'rned'unjtil the arrow isaligne'd with the particular line 67. that is calibrated with the desired cable size. The feed stroke limits of the crimping 1011 are at this time positioned relative to the drive and idler rolls to properly accommodate thatsize of cable and its corresponding connection appliance With the feed means'zl provided as just described the pneumaticrdrive' system 22rfor driving same preferably icomprises a single acting pneumatic'cylinder 68 vertically 1 V mounted within the well 56.:defined by feed housing 55 1 The piston rod 69 of cylinder .68 extends verticallyupward through the. upper end of the cylinder intoconnec- 7 tion with the cross member 52 of the pivot bracketfiti.

" Thus when the cylinder is energized and its piston is pneu nected at. a point 53 adjaceutthe crimping roll, between' upwardly and longitudinally projectingextensions 54.01?

overlying relation to the'well 56 definedb'y thehou singa "SSJ'The housing 55 is arranged to' be vertically translatable relative to the bed housing 26 and inlthis regard it i is tojbe noted that the extensions 54 lap the sides of thebed housing attherearward end thereof; The exmatically urged upward the. bracket is pivoted to urge V the crimping roll'gradually downward towards the drive and idle rolls; When the crimpingroll reaches'the lower limit of its stroke the cylinder is ported in amanner sub-' sequently; described such ,that the springs '59 acting on the bracket fo'rcethe piston downward to the lowerlend of the cylinder. It will be appreciated that'the piston as disposed atthe lower endof the cylinder. determines the upper limit of the. feed strokeof the crimping roll: a

Considering ow the, pneumaticv control system 23? in detail,-it preferably includes a 4-way valve .71 connected as depictedin FIGURE 6 to elfectthe alternating re ciprocation of the piston of double actingcylinder 33.

The ports at the opposite ends of cyliuderi3 3 are: re-

spectively connected to opposed ports72, 73 of the valve 71. One of the other valve ports 74 is vented to atmosphere while the remaining port 76, is arranged to be selectively coupled to the compressed air supply 24. In addition the pneumatic actuating ports 77, 78 of valve 71 are respectively connected to trip valves 79,81 disposed at the opposite endsof the housing 32 so as to be engageable with the rack support brackets 39 asthe rack reciprocates between the opposite ends of the housing. One trip valve 79 is preferably'fixedly secured to the housing while the other trip valve 81 is selectively longitudinally translatable relativethereto. To this endvalve 81is coupled to a lead screw translating mechanism, 82' or equivalent means as best shown in FIGURE 1. It will be appreciated that as air'is supplied from one port 72 of valve 71 to one port of the cylinder'33, the piston urges the rack towards one end of the housing 32. The leading bracket 39 then engages for example trip valve. 79, which valve in turn actuates the 4-way valve 71 to reverse the flow conditions therethrough. The-first port of the cylinder is now vented to atmosphere through valve port 74 while air is supplied from valve port 73 to the port at the other end of the cylinder. The piston hence urges the rack in the opposite-direction towards the other end of the housing and the trip valve 81. The leading bracket 39 engages thetrip valve 81 and same operates to reverse the flow conditions through the 4-way valve. Thus the 4-way valve and trip valves are effective in producing the alternating rack reciprocation and therefore the alternating rotation of the feed roll 16. Moreover, it will be appreciated that adjustment of the lead screw translating mechanism 82 to vary the longitudinal position of trip valve 81 correspondingly varies the stroke length of the rack and therefore the angle of rotation of the drive roll.

This is important in that smaller size cable and connection appliances require a smaller rotational angle of the drive roll than do larger. sizes.

The control system 23 further includes a 3-way valve 83. Ports 84, 86 of the valve 83 are respectively connected to the supply port 76 of the 4-way valve andthe port of the pneumatic cylinder 68. The other ports 87, 88 of the 3-way valve are respectively vented to atmosphere and connected to compressed air supply 24. The actuating ports 89, 91, of the 3-way valve are respectively connected to trip valves 92, 93. Trip valve 92 is mounted within the feed housing 55 in overlying relation to the pneumatic cylinder 68 so as to be engageable with the upper end of the piston rod 69 when the pivot bracket 48 is provided upward by the piston within the cylinder. The trip valve 92 upon being engaged by the piston rod is effective in actuating the 3-way valve to disconnect the air supply 24 from the ports 84, 86. As a result both cylinders are deenergized to terminate operation of the machine. The trip valve 92 thus determines the lower limit of the feed stroke of the crimping roll. The trip valve 93 is similarly operable to actuate the 3-way valve to disconnect the air supply from the valve ports 84, 86 and thus terminate operation of the machine. The trip valve 93 hence functions as a cycle stop switch. The 3-way valve includes a start switch 94 which is operable upon actuation to shift the 3-way valve to a position connecting the air supply 24 to the valve ports 84, 86 and thereby commence operation of the machine. It will, of course, be understood that the device may be adapted to also operate hydraulically to'perform the same work.

'In the over-all operation of the machine the shaft extension 61 is first rotated until the arrow 66 is aligned with the line calibration 67 indicative of the cable and and connection appliance are inserted between the crimping roll and feed and idler rolls. The start switch 94 is actuated to commence operation of the machine. The feed roll is thus rotatably alternated to similarly rotate the cable and connection appliance in alternately opposite directions. Simultaneously the crimping roll 19 is urged into closer and closer contact with the appliance periphery to crimp the appliance to the cable. When an appr-opriate depth of crimp is attained, the trip valve 92 is engaged to in turn actuate the 3-way'valve to terminate operation of the machine. If at any time during the operating cycleof the machine it is desired to cease operation the cycle stop trip valve 93 is actuated.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the {crimping machine of the present invention which 'will insure the formation ofa crimp of uniform depth completely around the associated portions of the cable and connecting appliance, thus eliminating the possibility of any defects in the attachment such as commonly prevalent with the use of hand operated crimping devices. At the same time the crimping operation may be performed in considerably less time than with the hand type. It will additionally be seen that since the machine of the present invention is capable of forming practically any desired number of crimps on different diameters simultaneously, it becomes unnecessary to change dies or other supplemental parts when cables of different sizes or with different connection appliances are being operated upon. What is claimed is: 7

1. A cable crimping machine comprising a bed with spaced driveand idler'rolls journalled thereon, a crimping roll disposed in overlying relation to said drive and idler rolls, feed means mounting said crimping roll for rotation about an axis parallel to the axes of said drive and idler rolls and for translation towards and away from said bed, a powered drive system coupled to said drive roll to upon energization rotate the drive roll alternately inopposite directions, a powered feed system coupled to said feed means to upon energization translate said crimping roll towards said drive and idler rolls, and a control system coupled to said powered drive and powered feed systems to selectively effect simultaneous actuation thereof. 7

2. A cable crimping machine according to claim 1, further defined by said drive and idler rolls each having a pair of transversely spaced peripheral portions of different diameters and said crimping roll having a pair of transversely spaced rims respectively aligned with vertical medial planes through the spaced peripheral portions of said drive and idler rolls, the diameter of said rim aligned with the larger diameter peripheral portions being less than that of the rim aligned with thesmaller 7 rotary drive system coupled to said drive roll for rotating same alternately in opposite directions, a pneumatic feed system coupled to the second end of said bracket to urge same upwardly, and-a pneumatic control system coupled to said pneumatic drive and feed systems to se- 7 lectively eifect simultaneous energi'zation thereof. 7

4. A cable crimping machine according to claim 3, further defined by said bracket being pivotally mounted within a feed housing, .said feed housing vertically translatablerelative to said bed, and adjustable translating means coupled between said bed and feed housing for selectively translating the latter to varied vertical positions relative to the former. V

5. A cable crimping machinecomprising a longitudinally elongated drive housing, a bed secured to one side 7 of said housing longitudinally spaced drive andidler rolls journalled on said bedifor rotation about parallel a m-09s r transverse axes, said drive roll having an 'axleiprojecting from s a'id bed and overlying the topof said housing, a gearsecured to the end of said axleand extending through the top of said' 'housing into its interior, a double act:

ing pneumatic cylinder mounted within said housing with piston rods extending longitudinally from the opposite ends of the cylinder, a rack longitudinally. disposed ,between said cylinder and the top of said housing, saidrrack engaging said gear and secured to said piston rods, a feed housing atone end of said bed, a pivot bracket pivotally mounted within said feed housingrfortrotatio n about a transverse axis and having a first end overlying said rolls pivotal upwardly and downwardly relative thereto, a crimpingvroll journalled'for rotation about a transverse axis atsaid first end of said'bracket, asingle'acting pneumatic cylinder mounted within said feed housing and having a piston rod extending upwardly into connection with the second 'end of said bracket,,.spring means nor- 'mally urging the second end of said bracket downward,

-actingcylinderand to the fourth port of said 4-wayvalve and having third and fourth portstrespectivelylventedinto and a pneumatic control system for selectivelytsupply- ,7

ing compressed air alternately to the opposite ends, of said double acting cylinder while simultaneously"supplying machine according to claim 5,

vertical positions relative to 7 further defined by said' first trip'valve being selectively i 7.A cable crimping machine according to claim- 5,

further defined by'said drive and idler rolls each having a pair of transversely spaced peripheral portions of different diameters and said crimping roll having apair of transversely spaced rims respectively aligned with vertical medial planes through the spaced peripheral portions 'of said driveand idler rolls, the diameter of said rim 7 aligned with the larger diameter peripheral portions bevwith the smaller 7 ing less than that of the rim aligned diameter-peripheral portions.

- 8. A cable crimping 'machine according to ,claim 5:,

further defined by' said pneumatic. control systemrcomprising a 4-way valve having first and secondtportsr respectively' connected to theioppositeendsof saidI double acting pneumati c cylind e rand a third port vented ftoat; rnosphere and a fourth port, first and second tripjvalv es disposed within said ,drive: housing at itsioppositej ends and nengag'eabl'e with-said rack, said trip valves coupled to said 4-Way valve and operable up'on'engagement by said rack'to reverse the flow between the portsiof said 4-way valve, a 3-way valve having first and secondlports respectively. connected to the lower end of saidfsingle atmosphere and connectedto a compressed air'source, said 3-way valve having start switch means operable'upon actuation toestablish flow in said 3-way valve between its fourthport andthe' first and second ports thereof; and v a third trip valve" mounted within said'feed 'housingrand engageable with said'second vend of: said bracketupon upward movement thereof a predetermined distance, said third trip valve coupled to said 3-way valve and operable upon engagement with=said bracket to shift said'3- way valve to a position blocking flow between its-fourth port andithe first and second ports thereof. 7 t

9.-A cable crimping machine according to claim 8,

longitudinallytranslatable within said drive housing;

ReferencesCitcd by the Examiner V ,UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES w. LANHAMQPrima y Examiner.

4/ 74 7 Hayden u r3013 

1. A CABLE CRIMPING MACHINE COMPRISING A BED WITH SPACED DRIVE AND IDLER ROLLS JOURNALLED THEREON, A CRIMPING ROLL DISPOSED IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID DRIVE AND IDLER ROLLS, FEED MEANS MOUNTING SAID CRIMPING ROLL FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXES OF SAID DRIVE AND IDLER ROLLS AND FOR TRANSLATION TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID BED, A POWERED DRIVE SYSTEM COUPLED TO SAID DRIVE ROLL TO UPON ENERGIZATION ROTATE THE DRIVE ROLL ALTERNATELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, A POWERED FEED SYSTEM COUPLED TO SAID FEED MEANS TO UPON ENERGIZATION TRANSLATE SAID CRIMPING ROLL TOWARDS SAID DRIVE AND IDLER ROLLS, AND A CONTROL SYSTEM COUPLED TO SAID POWERED DRIVE AND POWERED FEED SYSTEMS TO SELECTIVELY EFFECT SIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION THEREOF. 